While government is finalizing an executive order that seeks to address the country’s water security, a solon representing Indigenous Peoples on Wednesday reminded policy-makers that a national water policy should be inclusive and leave no one behind––especially Indigenous Peoples (IP) groups.
The access of Indigenous Peoples to clean water should be prioritized alongside efforts to stabilize water supplies said ANAC-IP Rep. Jose T. Panganiban, Jr., who stressed that “the issue of water isn’t limited to access for Metro Manila. Dapat lahat ng apektadong sektor sa buong bansa kasama sa isyu na ito.”
The lawmaker added that government should also address poor water quality and sanitation in rural and indigenous communities.
“Everyone deserves a better quality of living.”
Based on the 2015 Family Income and Expenditure Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), only an estimated 87.2 percent of the country’s population obtain water from safe sources.
Meanwhile, according to Water.org’s statistics, 9 million out of 101 million Filipinos do not have clean, safe and sustainable water sources, while 19 million Filipinos lack access to improved sanitation.
Around 6 million Filipinos still practice open defecation and 20 million still lacking access to basic sanitation facilities. Meanwhile 75 million Filipinos have basic sanitation service at a national level, the World Health Organization reveals.
“While we cannot deny the fact that we have made progress in providing water to Filipinos, inequitable ang access sa mga area lalo na sa rural and IP communities,” said Panganiban.
“While we cannot deny the fact that we have made progress in providing water to Filipinos, there is inequitable access in the rural areas and IP communities.”
According to Panganiban, a lack of access to safe water will lead to diseases.
The Department of Health noted that from January to July 2018, a total of 11,120 acute bloody diarrhea cases were reported, while cholera cases totaled 1,166 for the same period.
“Maganda sigurong malaman natin mula sa DOH kung ano na ba ang status ng programa nila for safe water and sanitation, lalo na ang datos tungkol sa mga IP at rural communities,” the legislator said.
The health agency has included Sustained Zero Open Defecation, Universal Drinking Water, and Universal Hand Washing as among the pillars of the 2016-2022 Philippine Health Agenda.
“Everyone deserves a better quality of living. Sana kumilos tayo para maisama ang mga IPs at mga Pilipinong nasa kanayunan sa agenda for clean and sustained access to water.”